　　Students of United States history, seeking to identify the circumstances that encouraged the emergence of feminist movements, have thoroughly investigated the mid-nineteenth-century American economic and social conditions that affected the status of women. These historians, however, have analyzed less fully the development of specifically feminist ideas and activities during the same period. Furthermore, the ideological origins of feminism in the United States have been obscured because, even when historians did take into account those feminist ideas and activities occurring within the United States, they failed to recognize that feminism was then a truly international movement actually centered in Europe. American feminist activists who have been described as "solitary" and "individual theorists" were in reality connected to a movement―utopian socialism—which was already popularizing feminist ideas in Europe during the two decades that culminated in the first women's rights conference held at Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848. Thus, a complete understanding of the origins and development of nineteenth-century feminism in the United States requires that the geographical focus be widened to include Europe and that the detailed study already made of social conditions be expanded to include the ideological development of feminism.
　　The earliest and most popular of the utopian socialists were the Saint-Simonians. The specifically feminist part of Saint-Simonianism has, however, been less studied than the group's contribution to early socialism. This is regrettable on two counts. By 1832 feminism was the central concern of Saint-Simonianism and entirely absorbed its adherents' energy; hence, by ignoring its feminism. European historians have misunderstood Saint-Simonianism. Moreover, since many feminist ideas can be traced to Saint-Simonianism, European historians' appreciation of later feminism in France and the United States remained limited.
　　Saint-Simon's followers, many of whom were women, based their feminism on an interpretation of his project to reorganize the globe by replacing brute force with the rule of spiritual powers. The new world order would be ruled together by a male, to represent reflection, and a female, to represent sentiment. This complementarity reflects the fact that, while the Saint-Simonians did not reject the belief that there were innate differences between men and women, they nevertheless foresaw an equally important social and political role for both sexes in their Utopia.
　　Only a few Saint-Simonians opposed a definition of sexual equality based on gender distinction. This minority believed that individuals of both sexes were born similar in capacity and character, and they ascribed male-female differences to socialization and education. The envisioned result of both currents of thought, however, was that women would enter public life in the new age and that sexual equality would reward men as well as women with an improved way of life.
22. According to the passage, which of the following is true of the Seneca Falls conference on women's rights?
　　A It was primarily a product of nineteenth century Saint-Simonian feminist thought.
　　B It was the work of American activists who were independent of feminists abroad.
　　C It was the culminating achievement of the Utopian socialist movement.
　　D It was a manifestation of an international movement for social change and feminism
　　E It was the final manifestation of the women's rights movement in the United States in the nineteenth century.
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Caroline Lee
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Last edited by Caroline Lee on Sat May 02, 2009 6:36 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind. ----Russell
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yangxuandudu
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Caroline Lee
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Although I have been struggling between C and D, option C is not the OA.yangxuandudu wrote:The answer is C.
Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind. ----Russell
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Caroline Lee
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Furthermore, the ideological origins of feminism in the United States have been obscured because, even when historians did take into account those feminist ideas and activities occurring within the United States, they failed to recognize that feminism was then a truly international movement actually centered in Europe. American feminist activists who have been described as "solitary" and "individual theorists" were in reality connected to a movement―utopian socialism—which was already popularizing feminist ideas in Europe during the two decades that culminated in the first women's rights conference held at Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848.kvamsy wrote:Can any body explain why the answer cannot be b
The words marked bold and blue hereinbefore indicate that the Seneca Falls conference was not an event independent of feminism abroad.
Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind. ----Russell
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dimochka
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I would assume it's at least in part due to answer C's usage of "the" to mark this conference as the most important and largest achievement of the Utopian social moment, thereby implying that all achievements made afterwards are less important (which we do not know and, therefore, cannot assume).
First the question.
"According to the passage, which of the following is true of the Seneca Falls conference on women's rights? "
The key word here is Seneca Falls.
We find these words in here. So reading the sentence in full can help.
"American feminist activists who have been described as "solitary" and "individual theorists" were in reality connected to a movement"•utopian socialism-which was already popularizing feminist ideas in Europe during the two decades that culminated in the first women's rights conference held at Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848"
Look at the options now.
Option A : We can't decide just with this sentence. So park this.
Option B : This can't be the answer as the sentence says "in reality connected to a movement"•utopian socialism-which was already popularizing feminist ideas in Europe"
Option C : Potential answer. But let's park this.
Option D : Potential answer. But let's park this.
Option E : This can't be answer for obvious reasons.
So that leaves is with A,C & D.
Further reading is needed to decide on A. Reading "The earliest and most popular of the utopian socialists were the Saint-Simonians." gives an indication that A can't be an option.
Available options is C & D.
The word culminated in "...that culminated in the first women's rights conference held at Seneca Falls" is key. It doesn't qualify the utopian socialist movement.
So the answer has to be 'D'.
"According to the passage, which of the following is true of the Seneca Falls conference on women's rights? "
The key word here is Seneca Falls.
We find these words in here. So reading the sentence in full can help.
"American feminist activists who have been described as "solitary" and "individual theorists" were in reality connected to a movement"•utopian socialism-which was already popularizing feminist ideas in Europe during the two decades that culminated in the first women's rights conference held at Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848"
Look at the options now.
Option A : We can't decide just with this sentence. So park this.
Option B : This can't be the answer as the sentence says "in reality connected to a movement"•utopian socialism-which was already popularizing feminist ideas in Europe"
Option C : Potential answer. But let's park this.
Option D : Potential answer. But let's park this.
Option E : This can't be answer for obvious reasons.
So that leaves is with A,C & D.
Further reading is needed to decide on A. Reading "The earliest and most popular of the utopian socialists were the Saint-Simonians." gives an indication that A can't be an option.
Available options is C & D.
The word culminated in "...that culminated in the first women's rights conference held at Seneca Falls" is key. It doesn't qualify the utopian socialist movement.
So the answer has to be 'D'.
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vikram4689
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